Dual profile pen gun

ABSTRACT

The Dual Profile Pen Gun is a highly concealable, hand held firearm of novel design, commonly referred to as a pen gun, having the appearance and esthetics of a pen like instrument when in a neutral, non firing mode, and can only be fired by manipulating the gun out of its straight axial pen like position into an approximate (90 degree) right angle bend, so the handle of the gun is below and at an angle to the bore of the gun. In this position the weapon is in the ready to fire position and can be held safely in the palm of the hand, until either fired or put back into a straight neutral position. To fire, a safety ring must be twisted clockwise, aligning the breechblock aperture with the firing pin. After the gun has been fired, the firing pin must be retracted back behind the breechblock wall and the safety ring turned counter clockwise allowing a tab on the rearward end of the barrel sufficient clearance so the barrel can be removed for reloading or replaced by an adapter threaded to receive a replacement barrel of any diameter, of any length, allowing this single weapon to potentially fire any caliber pistol, rifle or shotgun ammunition.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] In 1968, the United States Congress enacted the Gun Control Act of 1968 commonly referred to as the National Firearms Act. A section of this new law designated Title I, covered firearms that could legally traded without federal interference. A second section was designated Title II, and covered military style and unconventional firearms, like pen guns, machine guns, sawed off shotguns and cane guns. These newly classified firearms immediately became unlawful to own, sell or manufacture without going through a transfer process and paying a special tax that registered each weapon and owner with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The pen gun was for all potential purposes now unlawful to own, manufacture or sell without going through this cumbersome transfer process. The National Firearms Act ensured that pen guns were for now economically unviable as a marketable product. The Dual Profile Pen Gun “bend to fire” design over came the NFA regulations regarding pen guns by meeting the federal requirements established to be classified an “over the counter” Title I pistol, and an economically viable firearms product. The present invention is an improvement of U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,231, co-authored by the present inventor.

DESCRIPRION OF PRIOR ART

[0002] The present invention relates to improvements to U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,231 entitled Duel Profile Pen Gun, co-authored by the present inventor, in which the gun barrel, stock, and other parts thereof are formed and axially aligned to simulate the appearance of a conventional pen like instrument of the type with a clip, which can easily be carried and concealed in the pockets of garments. Here to fore, guns of this type, generally referred to as “pen guns”, have been of varied style and function, and in a traditional straight axial configuration. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,608,359 issued to Sergio M Biason in 1926, a pen gun device is shown that combines a writing instrument with a mechanism for firing a single bullet. This device has a protruding external firing mechanism which necessitates the users thumb be kept firmly attached to the cocked firing mechanism to facilitate the firing of this weapon.

[0003] In U S. Pat. No. 1,664,049 issued to Reginald F Sedgley in 1928, the inventor creates a pen gun that is a firearm designed to appear as a writing instrument for concealment purposes. The firearm is an improvement in that the firing sand handling of this weapon is comfortable and less prone to accidental firing.

[0004] In U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,902 issued to Gaylord, Jr. et al in 1954, we have a pen gun with the appearance of a pen for concealment purposes. It has been designed with a protruding firing mechanism, which is meant to be cocked, held, then released by the users thumb.

[0005] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,935 issued to Joseph Plachy in 1985, we have a combination writing instrument and firearm. This invention is a design improvement in that it has no external protrusions, which greatly improves its pen like appearance.

[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,231 issued to Braverman and Shklyarov in 1991, we have a pen gun design that meets the legal criteria established by the Congress of the United States to be classified a “Title One” handgun. A pistol, as it refers to the present invention is defined as a handgun that can be fired by use of one hand with the handle of the gun below and at an angle to the bore of the gun. The importance of this design characteristic in relation to other pen gun designs is of great importance, because with the “bend to fire” design characteristic, separating the present invention from other pen gun designs, the Duel Profile Pen Gun has been classified a “Title One” handgun, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which means that the Duel Profile pen gun design can be sold to the public in convention retail establishments, thereby having economic viability.

[0007] The present invention is an improvement of the Duel Profile pen gun in that it overcomes the problems of all prior pen gun inventions by eliminating external protrusions, providing a smooth modern appearance, new safety designs that will not allow the gun to be the loaded or unloaded while the firing pin is exposed to the cartridge, a reciprocative breechblock that can be held comfortably in the firing position safely with one hand for an indefinite period of time, takes the shape and profile of a traditional handgun with the guns grip at an angle to and below the axis of the bore for a more accurate aim, and can be adapted with a new barrel adapter design which will allow it to be fitted with replacement barrels chambered to handle multiple caliber pistol, rifle or shotgun ammunition. Although the present configuration is a single shot weapon, it can be designed to carry and fire multiple rounds of ammunition by use of an external ammunition clip or magazine, thus making a multiple shot weapon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] This invention relates to a concealed weapon commonly referred to as a “pen gun”, which has an improved esthetic appearance of a modern pen like instrument, which can be concealed in the pockets of a persons clothing, and can be adapted to fit replacement barrels chambered to fire a variety of different caliber and types of ammunition including pistol, rifle, shotgun, flares, marking and less lethal.

[0009] This pen gun is comprised of four body members made of a rigid material that is elongated and cylindrical and has a hollowed center passage. The front member, a chamber area for receiving a single cartridge, and commonly referred to as the barrel is threaded on one end for engagement with a central member and fashioned with an extended tab as part of the safety system. The size of the aperture of the central member dictates the maximum diameter size of the barrel, which limits the size and caliber selection of the ammunition, which can be chambered into the barrel. To overcome this limitation of caliber selection we have provided a rigid, elongated cylindrical adapter with a hollowed center passage fitted with a firing pin extension and threaded for engagement with both the central member and a replacement barrel that can have a diameter large enough to chamber any caliber of pistol, rifle or shotgun ammunition. This central member, threaded to engage either the barrel or adapter, is the main body of the firearm, which houses the firing pin assembly and a sliceable breechblock safety system. The third body member is the rear housing and is used to cock the firing pin assembly into a ready to fire position. The rear housing, which is the handle of the weapon, is made to slip over the rear section of the main body and the forth body member, the internal rear body. This present invention provides a pistol device of novel construction and arrangement embodying a firing pin carrier assembly mounted for reciprocative movement within a central body member. The firing pin assembly has been adapted to be manually moved rearward to a retracted and cocked position by grasping the barrel in one hand pulling forward while grasping the rear housing with the other hand pulling rearward thus exposing an internal hinge assembly connecting the rear section of the main body and the internal forth body member. The rear housing is then hinged downward at an approximate right angle to the barrel and main body section, allowing the trigger to be exposed from within an internal slot within the rear housing. Further, this hinging downward has caused an internal control pin assembly within the internal rear body to rotate a cam in contact with a slot in the firing pin carrier to force that carrier rearward, compressing the firing pin spring into a ready to fire position. To fire, the safety ring, in engagement with a reciprocating breech block, housed in the interior of the main body and exposed through an aperture in the main body side wall, controls the reciperacative sliding motion by rotating the safety collar counter clockwise. The inside surface of the safety ring is fashioned with a radial cutaway which matches and houses the radius of the outside edge of the breechblock. The other end of the breech bock is formed with a radius and an internal cavity made to encase an internal compression spring and pin exerting downward to the breechblock by its contact with the inside surface of the main body. When the safety ring is twisted counter clockwise the breechblock radial edge is forced out of the safety rings internal radial pocket to slide downward compressing the tension spring and pin, aligning the breech block aperture to the firing pin. Pressing the trigger inward will force the control pin down and out of the cam, releasing the compressed firing pin carrier assembly and firing pin to move forward through the breechblock aperture to contact the cartridge with sufficient kinetic energy causing the weapon to fire.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0010] It is an object of this invention:

[0011] 1. To provide a safe and useful firearm which can be carried on the person and be used as an effective emergency defense weapon.

[0012] 2. To improve the engineering design of previous pen gun patents by removing all external protruding mechanisms.

[0013] 3. To provide a smooth, clean, modern design of a pen like instrument which is highly concealable and function able.

[0014] 4. To offer an improved pen gun design which allows the weapon to be carried in a cocked and ready to fire position and can be safely discharged using one hand.

[0015] 5. To offer an improved pen gun design that offers a simple and straightforward mechanical design that embodies all the benefits of a safe, effective, reliable firearm.

[0016] 6. To provide a new safety design which will not allow a cartridge to be loaded into the weapon until the firing pin has been pulled rearward and blocked from moving forward.

[0017] 7. To provide a new safety design where the shooter must twist the safety ring to align the firing pin with the breechblock aperture.

[0018] 8. To provide a new safety design where after the shooter retracts the firing pin the gun will automatically return the safety ring and corresponding breech block into a safe position blocking the forward motion of the firing pin.

[0019] 9. To provide a method to overcome the limitation of caliber selection by use of an adapter which will allow the firing of any type and caliber of ammunition from a replacement barrel on a single receiver.

[0020] 10. To provide a pen gun device which is relatively simple, inexpensive and legal to manufacture and distribute.

[0021] 11. To create a pen gun the resembles the traditional straight axial design of all past pen gun art when in a neutral, non-firing mode, but must be fired like a standard handgun with the guns grip at an angle to and below the axis of the bore.

[0022] 12. To create a pen gun design that meets the legal criteria set forth by the Congress of the United States in the Gun Control Act of 1968 to be classified a “Title I” pistol.

[0023] 13. To create a handgun design that can be sold “over the counter” in any and all retail establishments without going through the National Firearms Act transfer process.

[0024] 14. To create a handgun that can fire multiple calibers and altered in design to carry and fire multiple rounds of ammunition.

[0025] In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, this pen gun design will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of the present invention in safe position.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a top elevational view of the present invention in the firing position.

[0028]FIG. 3 shows a side elevational view of the present invention in the ready to fire position.

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view in cross section showing the present invention in the hinged, ready to fire position, with the firing pin assembly drawn back and the trigger exposed.

[0030]FIG. 5 shows a side elvational view in cross section of the breechblock safety mechanism.

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of the barrel safety tab.

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a side elevational view of an adapter.

[0033]FIG. 8 shows a side elevational view in cross section of the barrel adapter.

[0034]FIG. 9 shows a side elevational view of the adapter mounted to the receiver with a Replacement barrel chambered with a 12-gage shotgun shell.

[0035]FIG. 10 shows a side elevational view of the adapter and barrel mounted and ready to fire.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0036]1. Barrel

[0037]1A Knurl

[0038]2. Barrel Bore

[0039]3. Chamber

[0040]4. Barrel Cartridge Head Seat

[0041]5. Barrel Threads

[0042]6. Main Body

[0043]6A. Main Body Hinge Joint

[0044]7. Barrel Safety Tab

[0045]8. Breech Block

[0046]9. Breech Block Cutout

[0047]10 Spring Retention Shoulder on Main Body

[0048]11. Tension Spring Cavity

[0049]12. Tension Spring Pin

[0050]13. Tension Spring

[0051]14. Breech Block Aperture

[0052]15. Safety Ring

[0053]16. Safety Control Screw

[0054]17. Safety Ring Control Slot

[0055]18. Radial Cut Area in Breechblock and Safety Ring

[0056]19. Safety Ring Radius

[0057]20. External Rear Body Radius

[0058]21. External Rear Body

[0059]22. Firing Pin Carrier

[0060]23. Firing Pin

[0061]24. Firing Pin Spring

[0062]25. Cam Slot in Firing Pin Carrier

[0063]26. Cam

[0064]27. Cam Cutout on Receiver

[0065]28. Internal Rear Body Hinge Joint

[0066]29. Axis pin

[0067]30. Control Pin

[0068]31. Control Pin Carrier

[0069]32. Trigger Cavity in Control Pin Carrier

[0070]33. Internal Rear Housing

[0071]34. Trigger Slot in Control Pin Carrier

[0072]35. Trigger Slot in Rear Handle

[0073]36. Key

[0074]37. Trigger

[0075]38. Trigger Axis Pin

[0076]39. Control Pin Carrier Compression Spring

[0077]40. Spring Retention Wall

[0078]41. Rear Body Compression Spring

[0079]42. End Cap Screw

[0080]43. Rear Cap

[0081]44. Pen Clip Seating Cutout

[0082]45. Pen Clip

[0083]46. Barrel Adapter

[0084]47. Knurl

[0085]48. Adapter Threads

[0086]49. Extension Firing Pin

[0087]50. Extention Firing Pin Slot

[0088]51. Accessory Barrel

Preferred Embodiment

[0089] Referring to the drawings, the present invention, a single shot pistol is shown on FIG. 1, comprising a barrel 1, fashioned with knurl 1A, mounted in axial alignment on the forward end of the main body 6 and the external rear body 21 to simulate the appearance of a pen like instrument. The safety ring 15 is in a neutral position and the trigger 37 is hidden from view by the rear body 21. Pen clip 45, seated in cutout 44, has been added to further its pen like appearance.

[0090]FIG. 2 shows the top elevational view of the gun in a cocked ready to fire position with the safety ring 15 in the safe position.

[0091]FIG. 3 shows the gun in a side elevational view in the cocked and ready to fire position with trigger 37 exposed from within external rear body 21.

[0092]FIG. 4 shows the gun in a side cross-section view with the internal mechanisms of the invention shown in the cocked and ready to fire position. The forward end of the main body 6 is threaded 5 to which the barrel 1 is mounted in axial alignment. The barrel 1 is formed with a bore 2 and an area to snugly receive a cartridge. The main body 6 is provided with a reciprocating breechblock 8 formed with an aperture 14 to slidably receive the firing pin 23 mounted on the forward end of firing pin carrier 22. When the gun is bent and cocked into a ready to fire position the safety ring 15 must be twisted to the left which allows the safety ring internal radius 18 to align with breechblock cutout 9 allowing breechblock 8 to move forward through breechblock cutout 9 seating itself in safety ring radius 18 by pressure exerted by breechblock tension spring 13 and pin 12 which is exerting pressure against the inside wall of main body 6 which then aligns breechblock aperture 14 with firing pin 23. After the gun is fired the gun must be closed to its neutral pen like position then recocked back into the firing position which will side the firing pin 23 rearward out of breechblock aperture 14 and allow the safety ring 15 to be twisted to the right which will reverse the process and allow breechblock 8 to slide upward and not allow alignment of firing pin 23 and breechblock aperture 14 so the gun cannot be fired. The safety ring 15 position and rotation is contained and controlled by use of control ring slot 17 and safety ring control screw 16 secured within the main body 6. The internal section of the main body 6 through which a central passage has been formed from breechblock 8 rearward into external rear body 21, internal rear housing 21 and terminating at rear cap 43.

[0093] The firing pin assembly is comprised of the firing pin 23, firing pin carrier 22, compression spring 24, cam slot 25, cam 26, and axis pin 29. The rotation of cam 26 is controlled by control pin 30 that fits into the bottom angular edge of cam 26 that rotates on axis pin 29. The rotation of cam 26 in-turn retracts the firing pin carrier 22 rearward through its connection with cam slot 25 on the rear section of firing pin carrier 22. The cam 26 is set between the main body hinge 6A and the internal rear-housing hinge 28 and is held in place by axis pin 29 that also allows for rotation.

[0094] The external rear body 21 is a cylindrical rigid member, which has been hollowed to encase the interior rear housing 33, compression spring 39, and rear cap 43. The external rear body 21 has been designed to move slidably forward and rearward. The front section of the external rear body 21 acts as a cover to encase the hinge section, trigger assembly, and hold the devise in a rigid, straight pen like position when in a neutral mode. The internal rear housing 33 encased within the external rear body 21 is a cylindrical rigid member that has been hollowed to encase the control pin carrier 31 and compression spring 39. The control pin carrier 31 is a cylindrical rigid member with a hollow cavity 34 that encases trigger 37, and has control pin 30 mounted on its forward end. To put the invention in a ready to fire position the rear body 21 is pulled slidably rearward compressing spring 41 against retaining wall 40 and rear cap 43, thus exposing hinge joints 6A and 28, trigger slots 34 and 35, and trigger 37. The rear body 21 is then hinged down approximately 90 degrees to main body 6 and barrel 1. The control pin 30 atop control pin carrier 31 rotates cam 26 clockwise on axis pin 29 which in turn through contact with cam 26 and firing pin slot 25 retracts firing pin carrier 22, compressing spring 24. To fire, trigger 37 is pressed inward which is set on axis pin 38 which allows the rear shoulder of trigger 37 to push down on control pin carrier 31, compressing spring 39, and retracting control pin 30 from cam 26. With cam 26 free to rotate and no longer restricting movement of the firing pin carrier 22, the compressed spring 24 forces the firing pin carrier 22 forward with sufficient kinetic energy, forcing firing pin 23 through breechblock aperture 14, hitting the cartridge seated in chamber 3, causing it to fire. To return the invention to a safe and neutral mode and allow for reloading with ammunition, the rear body 21 is pulled down and hinged upwards, thus allowing compressed spring 41 to force rear body 21 forward, encasing trigger 37, trigger slots 34 and 35, and the hinge joint area 6A and 28. Setscrew 42 is used to connect the rear cap43 and internal rear housing 33.

[0095]FIG. 5 shows the front end view of the invention straight along the axis showing the barrel bore 2, barrel 1, main body 6, breechblock 8, breechblock aperture 14, spring cavity 11, tension spring 13, tension pin 12, safety ring 15, safety ring radius area 18, control slot 17, control screw 16 and breechblock pass through cutout 9.

[0096]FIG. 6 shows the breech end of barrel 1, with engagement thread 5, cartridge head seating area 4,m chamber 3, and barrel safety tab 7. The barrel tab 7 functions by its relative position to breechblock 8. When breechblock 8 is in the safe position barrel tab 7 can pass by breechblock 8, allowing rotation of barrel 1 to load or unload the gun. When breechblock 8 has been slid into the firing position by twisting safety ring 15, the rotation of barrel 1 is blocked from rotation past breechblock 8. The reason for this encumbrance is to insure that firing pin 23 has been drawn rearward out of breechblock aperture 14 before barrel 1 can be rotated and removed to empty the spent cartridge and reload a new cartridge.

[0097]FIGS. 7 and 8 shows both a side elevational view and cross section of adapter 47 which is a hollowed cylindrical rigid member, formed with internal threads 46 to engage accessory barrel 51 and external threads 48 to engage the main body 6 and a formed chamber 49 shaped to fit floating firing pin 50. When adapter 47 is fitted to main body 6 as in FIGS. 9 and 10, which shows the gun in both the safe and ready to fire positions, barrel 51 can be formed to load any caliber of standard ammunition and screwed onto adapter 46. When the gun is fired, firing pin 23 will make contact through breechblock aperture 14 into floating firing pin 50 with sufficient kinetic energy to cause the cartridge loaded in accessory barrel 51 to fire.

[0098] While the above description contains much specificity, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations are within its scope. For example, skilled artisans will readily be able to change dimensions and shapes of various embodiments. They will be able to make this firearm of many alternative materials such as modern plastics, and can make variations on the firing mechanism, barrel assembly and attachment variations, loading characteristics, variations on ammunition capacity from single shot to multiple shot, safety design, cam and hinge assembly, new and alternative ways of connecting body members, and methods to facilitate the bending of the gun to have the handle below and at an angle to the bore of the gun.

[0099] This invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the embodiment illustrated, the claims and their legal equivalents. 

Having thus described the invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:
 1. A pistol which simulates the appearance of a modern pen like instrument, comprised of a barrel adapted to receive a cartridge and threadably connected to a main body having coaxial front and rear bores spaced apart by a breechblock with an aperture whose reciprocating movements are controlled by a safety ring which when twisted aligns the breechblock aperture with the firing pin assembly mounted for reciprocative movement in the main body to project a firing pin through said aperture and engage and fire said cartridge after pulling the barrel forward and the rear housing rearward exposing a hinge joint that will allow said rear housing to be bent below and at an angle to said barrel exposing a hidden trigger and causing said firing pin assembly to be drawn rearward until it is released by pressing said trigger inward causing a control pin to release a cam which in turn releases said firing pin assembly under pressure from a compressed spring to force the firing pin forward with sufficient kinetic energy to fire said cartridge.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein a pistol simulating the appearance of a modern pen like instrument cannot be fired when in the neutral, (180 degree) straight-line pen like axial configuration.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein a pistol simulating the appearance of a modern pen like instrument cannot be fired until the firearm is manipulated out of its straight line axial configuration and bent at an angle with the guns rear housing (handle) at an angle to and below the bore of the barrel.
 4. The invention of claim 1, wherein a pistol is fitted with a reciprocating breechblock with an aperture formed within, whereby its movements are controlled by an external safety ring which when twisted clockwise slides the breechblock in a position so that said breechblock aperture is aligned with the firing pin.
 5. The invention of claim 4, wherein a pistol is fitted with a reciprocating breechblock controlled by an external safety ring which when twisted clockwise aligns the breechblock aperture with the firing pin, and when fired said firing pin is protruding through the breechblock aperture, whereby a tab on the rearward end of the barrel interferes with the rotation of the barrel, thereby not allowing the removal of the barrel for reloading.
 6. The invention of claim 4, whereby a pistol is fitted with a reciprocating breechblock controlled by an external safety ring which when twisted clockwise aligns the breechblock aperture with the firing pin, and when fired said firing pin is protruding through the breechblock aperture, whereby a tab on the rearward end of the barrel interferes with the rotation of the barrel until the firearm is manipulated back to a straight position, manipulated back into a bend to fire position, which retracts the firing pin rearward and out of breechblock aperture, which allows the safety ring to be twisted counter clockwise, repositioning the breechblock aperture to block the forward motion and thus allow the tab to clear the breechblock and allow the rotation and removal of the barrel.
 7. The invention of claim 1, whereby a pistol which simulates the appearance of a modern pen like instrument, comprised of a barrel which can be replaced with an adapter formed at one end to accept an alternative barrel and threadably connect rearward to the main body with an internal passage channel formed within to house a secondary firing pin, whereby said replacement barrels can be formed to fit any and all standard ammunition calibers in any length.
 8. The invention, whereby a pen gun type weapon uses the bend to fire concept to seek federal re-classification from a Title II, National Firearms Act classification to that of a Title I firearm.
 9. The invention of claim 8, whereby a pen gun type weapon must be manipulated from a straight axial position to a position where the handle of the pen gun is below and at an angle to the bore of the pen gun there by allowing possible re-classification from a Title II NFA classified weapon to that of a Title I firearm.
 10. The invention, whereby modifications can be made to the main body (receiver) and barrel sections of the firearm that will allow an external ammunition storage devise to hold and fire multiple cartridges thus becoming semiautomatic.
 11. The invention, whereby a pen gun type weapon uses the bend to fire concept to seek federal re-classification from a Title II, NFA classification to a Title designation whereby modifications are made to the receiver and barrel that will allow use of an external ammunition devise to hold and fire multiple cartridges of ammunition and thus be considered semiautomatic. 